Bonita Canyon families leave cars at home for eighth annual Walk to School Day

These photos were sent to us by the staff at Bonita Canyon Elementary, which was among the Irvine schools to take part in Walk to School Day on Oct. 22. Observed annually around this time, the national campaign promotes walking and bicycling as a way to improve health, reduce traffic and highlight safe routes to school.

We’re not sure where he trekked from, but Honeypaws, the school’s mascot, was there to greet B.C. students in kindergarten through grade six as they arrived on campus early that morning. To the right, Preston Getz takes a moment to pose with the affable bear, while Hunter Hertstein goes up top for a high-five. Both are kindergartens in Mrs. Watson’s class.

Speaking of B.C., the school also hosted a number of activities associated with Red Ribbon Week last week, including a popsicle party for the classes that wore the most red and a pizza party for those that collected the most pennies. We’re told more than 800 pounds of pennies were collected in total, and those funds will help support programs that encourage students to make healthy choices.